Process for treating hydrocarbon oils



June 30,1925. y 1,543,832

A C. P. DUBBS PROCESS FOR TREATING HYDROCRBON OILS 'Fi-leduune s, 1922 5 sheets-Sheet' l MAv June 30, 1925.

c.P. DUBBS PROCESS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBON OILS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1922 T71 fer-(kwa June 30, 1925. v Y

- c. P. DUBBS v PROCESS- FOR TREATING HYDROGAARBGN OI'LS Filed'June a, 1922 5 sheets-sheet June 30, 1925.

C. F. DUBBS PROCESS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBON OILS 5 Sheets-Sheet -4 Filed June 3; v1922 lia la VVJune 3o, 1925. 1,543,832

C. P. DUBBS PROCESS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed June, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J7? ?/71 fr: arbol? 5.0 ubbs,

Patented June 30, A19125.

UNITED STATES -PATlazNr oFFicE.

CARBON P. DUBBS, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

PROCESS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBON OILS.'

Application filed June 3,1922.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CARBON l. DUBs, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the cit)1 of lVilmette, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new land useful Improvements in Processes for Treating Hydrocarbon Oils, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method for `treating hydrocarbon oils to produce therefrom products having lower boiling points. This applicationlis a continuation in part of an application Serial No. 201,527 filed November 30th, 1917.

Among the salientV objects of the 'inven-l tion are to provide an improved process in, whlch the heated lhydrocarbons are circulattubes being burned out by precipitation of carbon. by means of circulatingj the oil through said tubes; to provide a process in which such products that are only partlyv converted to the desired v,low boiling point are returned and further circulated through the heating tubes to provide a process where by means of controlled air cooled condenser,

the grade of distillate allowed to pass fromthe system is controlled and such distillate not up to a desired grade is condensed and automatically returned to the distilling coils and redistilled; lto provide a process in which heating tubes are maintained in a furnacefwithin well defined temperature ranges, and the oil caused to circulate in each set of heating tubes;;to provide in -general, an improved process of the character referred to. Y

Fig. 1 and Fig. laitogether '/show the side elevation of the apparatus partly in section l and with other parts broken away.

Fiff. 11 is a fravmentarv detail view of a liquid level device.

Fig. 2 and Fig. 211 are a plan view of the construction shown in F ig. 1 and Fig. 111.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the condenser members.

Serial N0. 565,684.

Fig. 4v is a View partly in endelevation and partly in section of the heating coilsll Referring to the drawings, A1 are fur- 'l naces in which the heating tubes are positioned. A2 is a tunnel through which the fire for heating the furnaces passes. A3 is a fiue tunnel.` A4 is a flue and stack.

B1 constitute parallel substantially level heating tubes and B2 constitute parallel substantially level distilling tubes. B3, B1, B5 and B6 are return Ts on the heating tubes. B1, Bs and. B1 are return Ts on the distilling tubes. B14' and B15 are bands around the tubes for anchoring the particular heating tubes shown. Vith the exception of the said anchors the'tubes extend freely through the furnace walls and can expand independently thereof. B15 and B17 are braces for supporting the tubes B1 and B2.

C1 is a feed line from any source of supply to pump C1, and in this line is throttle valve C3. C1 is a charging line to heatin tubes B1, and in this line is throttle valve 5, C and CT are motors for operating the pumps C2 and C". CB isa pump which is supplied through line C9 branch from lille C1. C1o is discharge line connecting this pump wit-h charging line C4 and branching oil' of discharge line C1 lis a branch line C11 which connects with suction line C9 and having positioned on it a pressure relief valve or bypassvalve C12. C13 is a meter of any standard make suitable for the work in hand. C14l is a standard makecheck valve. C15 is an automatic liquid level regulating gauge, and the o'ne shown here is that which is furnished v.by S-o Regulator Company ofliostoria` Ohio, and C15 shown attached to the end of distilling tubes B2 operates to open and close the regulator C15, which regulator is connected with C15 by a diaphragm C11, diaphra C17 being positioned in the supply 'line 1. It will be understood that any suitno i into line D1. This line-D1 is connected to the bottom of the fitting B12 which is secured tothe distilling tubes. B2. The oil is discharged out through the bottom of the fitting B8 by means of line E1 and through cooling tank E2 and then toy any suitable storage, not shown, and between said storage and cooling tank E2 is positioned in line E1 a throttle 'valve E3 to control the rate of flow of the residuum from theJine E1 and a similar throttle valve E4 is positioned in the line E1 for obtaining samples of residuum from said line E1.

F1 is a centrifugal pump. F2 is a motor for operating same. F3 is al suction line to the pump from the distilling tubes B2 coming out of the bottom of the fitting marked B13. F4 is discharge line which enters the side of the fitting B12 on the end of the tube marked B2. Fl1 is a carbon trap on the bottom of the suction line as'it comes out of the fitting B12. F6 is'also a centrifugal pump. F1 is a motor for operating same. F*1 is a suction line to the pump from the heating tubes B1 coming out ofthe bottom of the fitting marked B6. F"` is a discharge line from the pump which enters the side of the fitting marked B10 on the end of the tube B1. It will thus be seen that the oil introduced to the heating tubes B1 and the distilling tubes B2 may be independently circulated in either or both of said sets of tubes, attention being called to the fact that this circulation through the tubes B1 may be independently carried out by operating the. pump F, which draws oil through the pipe connection F11 through the pump F11, the

connection F9 and into one of the tubes of,

G1, G2, G3 and G4 areupwardly inclined vapor lines lleading off of the distilling tubes B2. Lines G1 and G4 connect with a manifold G5,'Which manifold connects by pipe G6 to a fitting B11 attached to the distilling tubes B2. Lines G2 and G3 connect to manifold G1, which manifold connects by means of pipe G's to the top of fitting B13 on the end ofthe distilling tubes B2. These vapor lines G1, G2, G2- and G4 are connected at upper end to a common header G9 and havev positioned on them -throttle valves G1", G11, G12 and G12. Said manifold G9 is connected to a top manifold G14 by means of bent pipes G15 to G26; and to the center of the top manifold G14 is connected pipe G27 which connects in turn to coils G28 contained in water tank G21. From coils G28, the condenser pipe extends through pipe G1 into receiving tank H. From pipe G30 1s a branch pipe G31 having a pressure indlcating gauge G12, and out of the pipe G11 extends pipey` G33 0n end of Whichfis a valve marked G31. This valve and gauge may be situated in the tail house and affords means for there regulating the pressure."`

On tank H are glass liquid gauges H1 and H2, pressure relief valve H11, draw-off valves H1, H5 and H? and pressure gauge H6 is for use in case water is to be drawn off before draining the distillate out through valve H5. H'1 is a valve for use in an emergency, for example. when one of the other valves are removed for repair or renewal and is unnecessary for showing the workings of the apparatus.

J1, J2, J 2 are supports for the receiving tank H. K is a support for the pipes as shown.

L1 isa standard indicating pyrometer and is connected with different thermo-sticks, which thermo-sticks are positioned in the furnace in which the tubes B1 and Bz are positioned. L2 is a standard temperature recording instrument and connected to a thermo-stick by a cable, and which thermostick is positioned inside the manifold G11. Ls is a standard temperature recording instrument connected to thermo-sticks, which latter are positioned, one in the heating coils to give the temperature of the oils therein, and one positioned in the large distilling coils, to give the temperature therein. L1

is a standard level indicating gauge, which is connected by tubing to the receiving tankA H and shows the depth of the liquid contained in receiving tank H. L5 is a standard switchboard, which board contains a standard knife switch for breaking or completing the circuit for operating the chargmg pump C2; also a knife switch for completing or breaking the circuit for conltrolling the motor C?, which operates the circulating pump C8, also a knife switch for breaking or completing the electric current for controlling the electric circulating pump F1; also a knife switch for breaking or completing the electric current for the electric lights in the plant, all of which are enclosed in a house built beneath the Water cooling tank G22.

M1 1s a gas main for .supplying the furnaces in which tubes B1 and B2f are contained. A

N1, N2, N2 and N1 are supports for the extensions O1 and 02 which extensions are simply housing over the ends of the preheatmg tubes B1 and the distilling tubes B2,

- to desired level, pump C2 is shut down and valve C3 on line C1 and valve C5 on line C* are closed, and normally remain closed dur' ing the rest of the run. Heat is supplied to the .furnace A1 and as soon as a desired vapor pressure has been created on the apparatus, then supply pump C8 is started in operation and obtains its supply of raw material through line C9 and discharges through line C19 into line C, valve C1s being` opened, and should the leveliof the liquid in the distilling tubes B2-beof the proper height, then the liquid level regulator C ywill by .mean's'of diaphragm C, closer-the valve C16 on supply line C4, and the back pressure thus created on the line C1 will force open `the pressure relief valve C12 and by-pass the oil from the discharge side of pump C9.y back into the suction line C9, and this operation will continue until the level in the distilling tubes B2 drops to a sutiicient point to permit the valve C16 to be automatically opened, thus admittin more raw material into the heating tu es B1 and B2.

Pump F1 is started and continues to operate during the process. This'causes the oil to circulate through the distilling tubes B2.

This ris accomplis ed by drawing the oil through suction F9 and discharging it back into the tubes, through the discharge pipe F".

The residuum c formedi in the distilling tubes B2 is drawn oil' either intermittently or continuously through line E11 through cooling coil contained in tank E2 and from there to any suitable storage. The quantity of residuum drawn off from this coil is regulated by means of valve E9 positioned in the line E1, and samples of said residuum` may be obtained at any time through cockv EA1 in line E1.

Pump F6 is maintained in operation throughout the process, and the. oil in heating tubes B1, is thus made to circulate by drawing olf the oil through suction pipe Fsand discharges back into these same tubes through the discharge tubes F9.

The vapors enerated pass up through l1nes G1, G2,

3 and Gf1 and manifold G9 f andfrom there up through pipes G15 to G29 into manifold G14. vAll the vapors thatA arei condensed up to thisv point are drained back into the distilling tubes'B2 While the v'remaining vapors pass up through line G2T through coil G28 immersed in water in tank G29, and from there pass through line G39 into receiving tank H from which they may be drawn oil' intermittently or continuously 70 through valves H4, H5 or H9.

It will be seen that this method provide a process for automatically and continuously treati-ng petroleum for the production of lower boiling pbint products and by means of the independent circulation of the li nids in heating tubes B1 and distilling tu es 4B2 permits the furnace in which the tubes are positioned being maintained at a considerably higher heat Without injurious effect to the oil and in fact up tovcertain well v dened limits, which limits are readily ascertained for any particular oil, it is of great commercial advantage to have the furnaces hotter than the oil contained in tubes positioned in furnace A1or oil and vapors contained in tubes B2, and both maintained in rapid circulation through these tubes.

The entire system is preferably subjected" to a vapor pressure of from 50 to 500 lbs. per square inch, although the 4pressure` will vary with the conditions. The temperature of the oil .will preferably vary from 500 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, Aalthough these limits are in no sense absolute. The pumps are preferably so operated as to cause a rapid circulation in the tubes B1. and B2.

A'further advantage in this type-of process is the fact that the oil is circulating in the same plane as the heating surface or substantially horizontally. vGenerally oil Ytreated under pressure for the conversion or cracking of the oil into lower boiling point hydrocarbons is processed in an apparatus in which the oil is passed through successive stages of varied dept'hs,thatis rthe oil passes from one level'to another as contrasted with the process herein shown in which the oil is circulated through an apparatus positioned in `substantially the same horizontal plane. This horizontal circulation maintains substantially equal depth' of the oil and a relatively constant depth in the-heating zone wherein the heating ismore uniform due to the equal distribution of the liquid. This uniform distribution in heating serves to provide increased vaporization .and conversion in thevaporizing chamber, and gives a consequential improved vaporization'and higher quality distillate. .By the terms in` dependent circulation or local circulation as used in the specification and claims,` it is meant that the oil may be circulated independently through either the heating tubes or the distilling tubes. This circulation may be maintained independent-- ly in each set of tubes simultaneously or a circulation may be maintained in one set wit-hout theother.

distilling zone, taking off and condensingthe vapor from the distilling zone and maintaining the oil under the pressure of the generated vapors during the distillation and condensation.

2. A process of converting heavy hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons consistming in passing the hydrocarbon in relatively small streams through a heating zone, passing the hydrocarbon from the heating zone in a larger stream through a distilling zone, causing an ,independent cyclic circulation of the oil in the heating zone, causing an independent cyclic circulation of the oil in the `distilling zone, taking off and condensing the vapor from the distilling zone and maintaining the oil under the pressure of the generated vapors during the distillation and condensation in excess of 50 pounds to the square inch,`and causing the oil to circulate both in the heating and distilling zones in substantially the same horizontal plane.l

3. The process of converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons, comprising heating hydrocarbon oil while passing in a restricted stream through a heating zone, indischarging heated oil from said stream into a. distilling zone, in causing an independent cyclic circulation of the restricted stream of oil passing through said heating zone, in taking off vapors from the distilling zone,

and in maintaining the oil under super-I atmospheric pressure during distillation.

4. The process of converting heavy hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons, comprising passing the hydrocarbon through a heating zone, in discharging the same from the heating zone into a distilling zone, in

causing an independent cyclic circulation of the oil in the heatin'g zone, and in also causing an independent cyclic circulation of the oil in the distilling zone, in taking o'l' vapors from the distilling zone, and in maintaining the oil in the system under a vapor pressure.

5. The process of converting heavy hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons, comprising passing the hydrocarbon through a heating zone, in discharging the same from the heating zone into a distilling zone, in causing an independent cyclic circulation of the oil in the heating zone, andin also causing an independent cyclic circulation of the oil in the distilling zone, in taking oi-vapors from the distilling zone, in introducing regulated quantities o/f raw oil tothe heating zone during the cyclic circulation of oil therein, in returning' condensate to said distilling zone, in discharging vdistillate from the system, and in maintaining the oil under the pressure of the generated vapors within the system.

6. The process of converting heavy hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons, comprising passing the hydrocarbon in streams through a heating zone, in discharging the oil from the heating zone to a distilling zone, in effecting an independent forced cyclic circulation on Athe oil at times in the heating zone, in causing an independent forced cyclic circulation ofthe oil at times in the distilling zone, in discharging the vapors from the distilling zone and in maintaining a vapor pressure during distillation of the oil. l

7. The process of converting heavy hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons, comprising passing the hydrocarbons in streams through a heating zone, in dischar ing the oil from the heating zone to a istilling zone, in effecting an independent forced cyclic circulation on the oil attimes in the heating zone, in causing an vindependent forced cyclic circulation of the oilv at times in the distilling zone, in discharging the vapors from the distilling zone, in collecting the vapors in a manifold, in passing the vapors from the manifold through coils, and in finally subjecting the same to a condensing action.

8. A process of converting heavy hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons comprisin'g passing the oil in a relatively small stream through a heating zone, discharging the oil from the heating zone to a distilling zone of comparatively larger cross section effecting independent forced cyclic circulations of the oil at times in the heatingl and distilling zones, subjecting the vapors evolved in the distilling zone to a condensing action, and maintaining a vapor pressure during distillation, lsaid independent circu-v lations in the heating and distilling zones being effected in substantially the same horizontal plane.

9. A process of converting heavy hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons consisting in the passing of hydrocarbon oil in a relatively small stream through a heating zone, discharging, the oil therefrom into a distilling zone of relatively greater cross' the hydrocarbon oil in relatively small streams' through a; horizontally disposed coil in a heating zone, in discharging 'the oil there-from into a distilling zone of substantially greater diameter and located in substantially the same plane as said heating coil, in effect-ing an independent cyclic circulation of the oil in the heating coil and an independent cyclic circulation of the oil in the -distilling zone, in removing vapors fromlhe distilling zone, and in maintaining the oil undergoing treatment under a superatmospheric vapor pressure.

11. A process of converting relatively heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons consisting in passing oil through a relatively small coil positioned in a heating zone directing the heated oil, thence to a distillingzone; also adapted to be externally heated taking off vapors from the distilling lzone and causinga forced local recirculation of theoil through the distilling zone withdrawing and condensing the vapors evolved in-the distilling zone and maintaining a controlled pressure in excess of fifty pounds per square inch upon the oil under- 'going treatment.

12. The process of converting heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons, consistingr in passing oil to a relatively small coil positioned in a heating zone, directing the heated oil thence to a distilling zone, in takingoi' lthe evolved vapors from the distilling zone and in causing a, forcedlocal cyclic circulation of the oil through the-distilling zone,

in-oondensing the evolved vapors, and inmaintaining a superatmospheric pressure on the 011 undergoing conversion.

CARBON P. DUBBs. 

